Trautman Ranch Conservation Area - West Loop

The Trautman Ranch Conservation Area, in the heart of Riverside State Park, was acquired in 2015 through Spokane County's Conservation Futures Program with assistance from the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy and the Trautman Family. The property is managed by Riverside State Park through an agreement between Spokane County and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

The loop described here begins on the west side of the paved Centennial Trail. After traversing a meadow, the trail descends gently, passing a couple of junctions and some ranch buildings. At the bottom of the hill, you’ll cross an old ranch road. Looking across this road, you’ll see a two-track lane on the left and a single track on the right. Take the single track, which heads north. About 1.25 miles from the trailhead, the track turns left and begins to ascend gradually through young pines and firs with abundant wildflowers in season. The forest aroma is intoxicating on a sunny day.

You’ll encounter junctions with some other informal trails and old ranch roads. The main trail ascends into a shadier forest with bigger trees and a richer understory. A gradual descent takes you to Carlson Road. On the opposite side, you’ll find Riverside State Park Trail 25 (marked); turn left and walk parallel to Carlson Road to return to the trailhead.

The trails at Trautman Ranch Conservation Area are open for snowshoeing and skiing in winter.

There are plans to join some of the Trautman Ranch trails to the adjacent “Riverside Park 25 Mile Trail” to add back some of the mileage lost during reroutes over the years. Washington State Parks hopes to have an updated Riverside trails map available for sale in summer 2026. The new map will include the Trautman Area trails and the Trail 25 revisions.